Limecellohttp://tartsweet.com
A Little Bit Tart, A Little Bit SweetSat, 12 Nov 2016 06:36:02 +0000en-UShourly141844566ALittleBitTartALittleBitSweethttps://feedburner.google.comSNAHM: Yasmine Galenornhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ALittleBitTartALittleBitSweet/~3/-lNVsMY8VKw/
http://tartsweet.com/2016/11/12/snahm-yasmine-galenorn/#commentsSat, 12 Nov 2016 06:24:05 +0000http://www.tartsweet.com/?p=9110Hi friends – I’m … still here. It’s been … a year, huh. Lots going on. Lots. Let’s just move right along. I have to say straight up, this post is a year late, and it’s on me. It is entirely, absolutely, 100% on me. My apologies. My apologies to you, my apologies to Ms. Galenorn. I messed up. I did want to share her post though – but also note – it was written almost a year ago, it should have gone up at that time. I will say, I definitely think it’s still relevant. (In fact, maybe it was meant to be – to be posted now considering…)

I want to thank Limecello for asking me to write a blog post on diversity/being a writer of mixed background. The world of media’s been filled with a lot of controversy this year—well, every year, I guess, but this year I’ve noticed it more.

And I’ve been thinking about the concept of diversity in books, movies, etc., a lot because this relates to me directly—as both an author, and as someone who has a mixed heritage background. Maybe I don’t look it…my Irish side seems to comes out a lot stronger than my Cherokee in my looks…but yes, I am mixed blood and honestly, it has never played a big part in how I think about myself. Probably because of that very fact—nobody bothers me about it because hey, I look white, to be blunt. No, I get attacked in other ways.

It hit my mother though, right where it hurts most, with family. With her husband’s family (my stepfather). And I knew it hurt her because when she was alive, she talked to me about it. I’d like to say he stuck up for her, that he put a stop to his mother treating my mother like a second-class citizen, but I can’t, because he, himself, was a racist though he would never have accepted that fact. But honestly, when you marry someone who is part Native American and then refer to NAs as “warhoops” and Hispanics as “wetbacks”…I’m sorry, you’re racist. When you won’t let your wife drink any alcohol because she’s part Native American, you’re racist. And so on.

Anyway, I had a long, long post written with all sorts of examples and I deleted most of it and decided to rewrite…just a blunt post.

I’ve seen so much ugliness in the past few years on the net. I’ve been called a whore/slut because my female characters are unapologetically sexual and lead alternative lifestyles. I’ve been trash-talked as a writer because of my looks—because I’m fat and unapologetic about the way I choose to dress, about the fact that I have a wonderful marriage, and that I’m successful and not ashamed of myself. Apparently, size has something to do with how well the words come out of my brain, according to a subset of trolls. I’ve seen friends get death and rape threats due to speaking out about the nature of being a female who writes science fiction and fantasy.

Enough. Just. Enough.

I no longer care about making my valid arguments and refuting the idiots because: Diversity? Whether it be in gender, color, size, sexuality, it’s not going away, people. The “good old days with family values” only existed for a minor subset of society. Women were struggling for equality. People of color were struggling for equality. L/G/B/T people were struggling for equality. The only ones who weren’t struggling with some form of discrimination were white men.

So here’s the thing: yes, you have less power when you share that power around. You have less power over others. That doesn’t mean you don’t have the power to shape your life into awesome…

What does it mean? This:

It means you can’t beat your wife.

You can’t rape your date.

You can’t terrorize the neighbors because they’re black.

You can’t pass over someone for a job simply because he’s Cherokee.

You can’t spit on a woman entering the military because you think she can’t handle the training.

You can’t deny Jim and George the right to marry.

You can’t pass over Linda for a promotion just because she’s fat and you would rather promote the size 4 blond so you can ogle her boobs.

You can’t force the local pagans to attend your church or to stop practicing their religion.

IOW: You can’t deny others basic rights simply because you don’t like them, you don’t agree with their religion, or you think they won’t serve you or that they are less than you. And, to be blunt, if you have a problem with this, I suggest you reexamine your ethics because…sorry, you’re wrong.

Anyway…I’ve seen too much online over the years to make me truly ever trust anybody I don’t know personally. Because those anonymous trolls and flame baiters? They aren’t bots. They are real people. Maybe the neighbor next door. Maybe the person you pass on the street. And they’ll smile to your face, and turn around and harass and hound and attack in private when they think nobody’s watching. When they believe they can get away with it. They’re cowards, but they’re dangerous cowards because sometimes, they take their hatred into the streets with guns. Or they beat up their girlfriends. Or they bully a little black girl just because they can.

So ya know…Enough.

Take a deep breath and decide—what do you want people to remember you for when you’re gone? Do you want to make the world a better place? Start by speaking out when you hear someone making a racist joke. Don’t sit by while the guys in the locker room talk about date-rape. Just stop adding fuel to the fire or enabling it by remaining silent.

Maybe I’m preaching to the choir…but if the choir doesn’t keep singing, all of this crap will slide back into acceptability. And it will just go on. And on. We can change things…one person at a time. One family at a time. But it starts with us. With the person in the mirror.

Yasmine

]]>http://tartsweet.com/2016/11/12/snahm-yasmine-galenorn/feed/29110http://tartsweet.com/2016/11/12/snahm-yasmine-galenorn/SNAHM = Smithsonian Native American Heritage Monthhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ALittleBitTartALittleBitSweet/~3/HfhP_OrBMZc/
http://tartsweet.com/2016/11/01/snahm-smithsonian-native-american-heritage-month/#commentsTue, 01 Nov 2016 05:35:15 +0000http://www.tartsweet.com/?p=9113Hi friends! Remember how I used to try to celebrate each month, line up guests, and do all the things?

Well, my “give a damn” broke a while ago, but I definitely still want to do something. Something that makes me happy though – that is positive, that isn’t a burden. And, allows for interaction.

So from now on, I’m going to start each Smithsonian Heritage Month with a post, a list, and an open call.

What do I mean? I’ll let you know when it is a Heritage Month.

Since this site is heavily romance slated, I also want to celebrate romance authors who are POC according to month. November is Native American Heritage Month. These are the authors *I* know to be [at least in part] Native American. Check out their books! Support these authors!

If you know of any more please let me know! I’d love to add to my list – and be prepared for suggestions for future and other Smithsonian Heritage Month posts! <3

]]>http://tartsweet.com/2016/11/01/snahm-smithsonian-native-american-heritage-month/feed/29113http://tartsweet.com/2016/11/01/snahm-smithsonian-native-american-heritage-month/Review: The Man Behind the Mask by Barbara Wallacehttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ALittleBitTartALittleBitSweet/~3/da7ty8fjKTU/
http://tartsweet.com/2016/09/27/review-the-man-behind-the-mask-by-barbara-wallace/#commentsTue, 27 Sep 2016 04:39:34 +0000http://www.tartsweet.com/?p=9094Mary’s review of The Man Behind the Mask (Best Friends Series Book 1) by Barbara WallaceContemporary Romance released by Harlequin January 7, 2014

A weekend to change everything…

Delilah St. Germaine fell for New York’s most in-demand bachelor, Simon Cartwright, the moment she began working for him. Four years later, her heart still flutters every time he saunters into the office—much to her frustration. He’s so far out of her reach it’s embarrassing!

Thrown together with him for a working weekend, Delilah glimpses the cracks in Simon’s glittering facade. Now she’s tasted the sweetness of his kisses, she’s determined to uncover the secrets he’s hiding and learn who the real Simon Cartwright is. But will innocent Delilah’s life ever be the same once the truth is revealed?

Boss/secretary isn’t a trope I pick up often since the lawyer in me is usually screaming, “Lawsuit! Lawsuit! Don’t do it!” Occasionally, however, it finds its way onto my Kindle. The blurb caught my eye because it has an unrequited love element which is something I do enjoy. I thought this novel would be lighthearted and quick but, boy, was I mistaken. What I got was so much better!

Deliah is the stereotypical ugly duckling. She views herself to be as boring as plain yogurt. But right from the start, she’s kind, amazingly organized and a hard worker. It’s that dedication to her own professional success that has left her lonely on Saturday nights. That and the massive crush she has on her boss. She believes he’s out of her league – smart and handsome with a revolving door of beautiful socialites to keep him company. Despite her feelings, which she’s never shared with anyone – not even her closest friends – Delilah and Simon make a great team. Together, they’ve built up their advertising company with Deliah being Simon’s necessary and non-expendable right hand.

Simon is completely obvious to Deliah’s feelings for him. He’s not self-absorbed or unkind, just unobservant. He’s stuck Deliah in the “do not touch” box and automatically believes she sees him in the same way. He respects her, enormously, and appreciates her hard work. Along with his clear professional lines, he’s also uninterested in having any kind of long term relationship. He dates women who expect little from him because that is all he wants to give. Normally, this attitude would bother me but Simon reads as a really nice guy. Like a really nice guy. He’s not arrogant or conceited. He’s simply a man who knows what he wants and what he doesn’t, what he’s willing to give and what he isn’t.

The romance in this book was slow burning, but I loved every minute of it. It was also unexpected. Simon has some dark demons – darker than I thought from looking at the cover and reading the blurb. A business trip forces him to face them and he fights it every step of the way. At the same time, he and Deliah are growing closer and, as his feelings grow for her, he is terrified she will find out – and it will change how she thinks of him. For Deliah, the change isn’t as dramatic but it’s no less impactful. Once she starts to catch glimpses of the real Simon, she understands the man she had a crush on doesn’t exist. Her fantasy fades and when reality takes it place, she doesn’t run or hide. She meets the challenge head on, and for that, I loved her all the more.

I have nothing bad to say about this book. Literally nothing. It was perfect from start to finish and I’m marking as one I will re-read if I fall into a book slump. Yes, it was that good.

]]>http://tartsweet.com/2016/09/27/review-the-man-behind-the-mask-by-barbara-wallace/feed/49094http://tartsweet.com/2016/09/27/review-the-man-behind-the-mask-by-barbara-wallace/Review: Playing with Fire by Kate Meaderhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ALittleBitTartALittleBitSweet/~3/fQpKpA_DOmk/
http://tartsweet.com/2016/09/06/review-playing-with-fire-by-kate-meader/#commentsTue, 06 Sep 2016 04:30:31 +0000http://www.tartsweet.com/?p=9071Mary’s Review of Playing with Fire (Hot In Chicago Series Book 3) by Kate MeaderContemporary Romance released by Pocket Books September 29, 2015

As the only female firefighter at Engine Co. 6, Alexandra Dempsey gets it from all sides: the male coworkers who think she can’t do the job, the wives and girlfriends who see her as a threat to their firefighter men, and her overprotective foster brothers who want to shelter their baby sister at all costs. So when she single-handedly saves the life of Eli Cooper, Chicago’s devastatingly handsome mayor, she assumes the respect she’s longed for will finally come her way. But it seems Mr. Mayor has other ideas…

Eli Cooper’s mayoral ratings are plummeting, his chances at reelection dead in the water. When a sexy, curvaceous firefighter gives him the kiss of life, she does more than bring him back to the land of the living—she also breathes vitality into his campaign. Riding the wave of their feel-good story might prop up Eli’s flagging political fortunes, but the sizzling attraction between them can go nowhere; he’s her boss, and there are rules that must be obeyed. But you know what they say about rules: they’re made to be broken…

Enemies-to-lover’s is a trope I can never get enough of. It’s also one that’s difficult to pull off well. This book (sadly) has been languishing in my TBR pile for months and months. Had I known how good it was, I would have read it much sooner!

Alexandra – called Alex by everyone except Eli – is one tough lady. She’s smart, loyal to a fault, mouthy and quick tempered. Not from lack of trying, she’s also having terrible luck in the dating department. All the frogs she’s had dinner with can’t manage to make it past the first date. To make matters worse, the one man she finds irresistible is the same one she can’t stand. When her past mistakes come back to haunt her, she’ll have to make a deal with the devil.

Eli is arrogant, domineering and has a decidedly backwards view of the world. He believes women shouldn’t be firefighters (probably also cops, Marines, etc. You get the picture). He’s a former Marine himself, a POW, and the current mayor of Chicago. With the re-election too close to call, he’s in desperate need of a ratings boost. Too bad it comes in the package of a fiery red-headed, female firefighter.

These two were perfect together. From the first chapter I was hooked and couldn’t get enough. Everything Eli gave, Alex turned it right back. The banter was fantastic, the chemistry electric. It was clear from the first page, the two of them were sniping at each other but under all that antagonism was real attraction. The pacing was well done and there was constant movement forward. As their walls started breaking down, and feelings became real, both of them didn’t shy away from addressing their different points of view.

My only complaint is with the final conflict. It felt a bit over-the-top. Alex reacted in a way I found immature and, while she apologized, she wasn’t the one groveling. Eli’s choices to get Alex back were more than what should have been required. In the end, I didn’t feel Alex grew in the way she should have but Eli did.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and will definitely pick up another by this author. And this time, I won’t let it linger on my TBR for very long!

We all know I have a handle on absolutely nothing. Is it possible to have a handle on less than nothing? A negative handle? Because if so – I’ve barely got that covered. (Not even that?)

What I AM trying to do is bring back Social Media for Social Good (SMSG). This will be year eight. Can you believe it? We’ve gotten bigger and smaller since this started, but the important thing is we’re still going.

“Lime,” you ask “WTF is this ‘Social Media for Social Good’ thing you’re nattering on about?”

Well, it’s where we use social media – blogs, Facebook, Twitter, what have you – and raise both awareness and funds for charity! Last year I tied it to football – because that made things easier, and made things less sad. (Before I had relied on comments/group participation, but that didn’t pan out.) SO! Now, we depend on The Ohio State University Buckeyes. Or at least … I do.

You can feel free to tie SMSG to whatever team/sport/event you like. You could even tie it to however many times your favorite author uses the word “kiss” in his/her newest book. You see where I’m going with this? SMSG is extremely fluid. The greatest purpose is participation.

Last year I started at the end of the season, and donated $10 to charity every time the Buckeyes scored a touchdown. $5 for a field goal. Anyone who commented on the blog post with a charity got a response. (For the record – 2015’s SMSG image wasn’t supposed to be that fucking annoying. I believe the only bottom text was supposed to be glitter text, but that didn’t translate in the image saving so … sorry. We won’t do that again.) Since I’m kicking it off for the entire season this year … I’ll figure something out. We’re still planning.

As you see, this is all in the preliminary stages, but I’ll be keeping track of each game and updating – and picking charit(ies) as well.

At this point, we have four participants. Myself, and three other amazing, generous ladies. I really hope you’ll consider joining us.

I’m a football fiend, so I’ll also be doing things like this any time the Buckeyes break 60 points in a game. (On the off chance they ever break 100 points … I’ll do an additional donation of $20 to someone’s non-profit charity of choice. … And in the further realm of “impossibility” … if the Browns win the Super Bowl this year I’ve said I’ll donate $1,000 to a charity.) I used to do book giveaways, but I figure this is more worthwhile, and also ties things together neatly for SMSG.

Today was the Buckeye season opener, and they scored 77 points. This happened on twitter.

Do you have any questions? Is there a particular game you’d like to commit to for joining us? You definitely don’t have to go the whole season. Or you could pick a professional team! Or high school! Or how many rows of knitting you complete! Or you could pledge to donate $1 for every book you read from now until the end of the year!

If you want to join us anonymously I am 100% good with that too. You can just let me know through the contact form here: http://www.tartsweet.com/contact/, or ask any questions you don’t feel comfortable asking in the comments.

So – any takers?

]]>http://tartsweet.com/2016/09/03/social-media-for-social-good-2016-sign-up-eight-years-and-counting/feed/19077http://tartsweet.com/2016/09/03/social-media-for-social-good-2016-sign-up-eight-years-and-counting/Review: The Asset by Anna del Marhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ALittleBitTartALittleBitSweet/~3/iWeNLbDiqLk/
http://tartsweet.com/2016/08/27/9062/#respondSat, 27 Aug 2016 21:23:00 +0000http://www.tartsweet.com/?p=9062Mary’s Review of The Asset by Anna del MarRomantic suspense released by Carina Press on February 1, 2016

Ash Hunter knows what it is to run. A SEAL gravely injured in Afghanistan, he’s gone AWOL from the military hospital. Physically and mentally scarred, he returns home to his grandmother’s isolated cottage—and finds a beautiful, haunted stranger inside.

Like recognizes like.

Lia Stewart’s in hiding from the cartel she barely escaped alive, holed up in this small Rocky Mountain town. Surviving, but only just. Helping the wounded warrior on her doorstep is the right thing to do…it’s loving him that might get them both killed.

Soon, Ash realizes he’s not the only one tormented by the past. Pushing the limits of his broken body, testing the boundaries of her shattered soul, he’ll protect Lia until his last breath.

I picked this book up while it was on sale. I’m a sucker for a wounded warrior story and romantic suspense is my most loved genre, so it was an easy purchase. I didn’t read any of the reviews on this book beforehand but I probably should have. What I thought I was buying wasn’t what I ended up with.

Lia is sequestered away in a small town from someone horrible. I learned, from the blurb, that it’s the cartel but it’s not actually stated in the book until much later. She’s dealing with an extreme case of PTSD. She and the hero literally meet over the barrel of a shotgun. She’s so terrified of the stranger in front of her, Lia doesn’t even notice he’s on crutches. So yeah, her PTSD is bad. But Lia is also kind and has a soft spot for anyone in need. Once she realizes Ash is in serious pain, she does her best to help him – even while respecting his boundaries. He adamantly refuses to let her take him to the hospital and, after he passes out on her, Lia figures out a way to treat him anyway. She’s resourceful and smart, a heroine I connected with immediately.

Ash was the perfect offset to Lia. He’s grumpy and gruff, direct almost to a fault. He’s also dealing with a bad case of PTSD but has a much better handle on it than Lia. As a Navy Seal, he’s used to pushing through the pain but the raging infection in his foot is more than he can handle. The hospital isn’t an option – the doctors want to amputate and Ash knows he won’t ever be able to return to active duty if that happens. With no family left, he has no one to care for him. Accepting Lia’s help isn’t easy, but it’s better than the alternative and Ash knows it.

The first 60% of the book flows quickly but reads more like a contemporary romance than a romantic suspense. There was no indication whatsoever that anyone from the cartel was after Lia. She experiences some problems – with her neighbors, at the bar she works at – but her reactions were over-the-top and seemed directly associated to her PTSD.

So, okay. Fine. Romantic suspense is a broad genre and, depending on the author, the book can be packed full of trouble or have only a drop. In this case, the characters were great and the writing was smooth. I was invested in the story despite the fact that I originally wanted a suspense.

Then the suspense finally showed up and it ruined everything.

From the very beginning, Lia knows (even if the reader doesn’t) that a dangerous individual is hunting her down. Yet, she never, ever says a word to Ash. The entire time he’s recuperating in her home, he is in serious danger but completely unaware of it. Her decision rubbed me the wrong way when I realized the risk she’d put him in without giving him the choice – especially after he’d recovered enough to go somewhere else.

Once Lia finally shares her problems with Ash, he makes some decisions that caused me to dislike him. A lot. He repeatedly refuses to allow Lia into his plans but his actions have serious consequences for her. Lia isn’t much better. She’s so determined to protect everyone around her, she ends up making some TSTL moves. The couple I’d fallen in love with in the first half of the book never ended up working together and that was a huge disappointment. Additionally, the book takes a dive into some pretty gritty stuff that didn’t really fit with the rest of the novel. Lia’s backstory was dark – really dark –and its described in brutal detail. So be sure to check the trigger warnings on Goodreads.

Ultimately, this book didn’t work for me. I really loved the first half, however, and would be willing to try another by this author – just not another romantic suspense.

]]>http://tartsweet.com/2016/08/27/9062/feed/09062http://tartsweet.com/2016/08/27/9062/Guest Review: Shanna by Kathleen E. Woodiwisshttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ALittleBitTartALittleBitSweet/~3/kdgkiBATpB8/
http://tartsweet.com/2016/06/07/guest-review-shanna-by-kathleen-e-woodiwiss/#commentsTue, 07 Jun 2016 04:36:31 +0000http://www.tartsweet.com/?p=9041Paige’s review of Shanna by Kathleen WoodiwissHistorical romance released by Avon in 1977, republished in 2016 as part of their Diamond Anniversary

From New York Times bestselling author Kathleen E. Woodiwiss comes one of her most iconic and beloved romances of all time…

A pact is sealed in secret behind the foreboding walls of Newgate Prison. In return for one night of unparalleled pleasure, a dashing condemned criminal consents to wed a beautiful heiress, thereby rescuing her from an impending and abhorred arranged union.

But in the fading echoes of hollow wedding vows, a solemn promise is broken, as a sensuous free spirit takes flight to a lush Caribbean paradise, abandoning the stranger she married to face the gallows unfulfilled.

Ruark Beauchamp’s destiny is now eternally intertwined with that of the tempestuous, intoxicating Shanna. He will be free . . . and he will find her. For no iron ever forged can imprison his resolute passion. And no hangman’s noose will keep Ruark from the bride— and ecstasy—that he craves.

Originally published in 1977, Shanna tells the tale of a spoiled little rich girl and the convicted criminal turned bondsman (which is a nicer way of saying “slave who works to pay off their debt and eventually can go free but are treated like trash by anyone with a title”) whom she marries in order to gain a name. Why does she do this? To get her father off her back, because she’s so spoiled that every man she meets, she finds fault with. She even rejects one because his shirt is fraying a bit at the edges.

When I told one of my friends that I was getting ready to read a Woodiwiss novel, she got super excited and told me that Ruark (how do you pronounce that, anyway?) was her very first book boyfriend and that I was just going to love him.

I didn’t. At all.

When we first meet him, he’s rude and gruff. I suppose it’s understandable because he’s in prison for a crime he says he didn’t commit, and then after she strikes a bargain to marry him, she finds a way to screw him over (I told you she’s a spoiled brat). So, of course he’s pissed. But the thing is, he’s already calling her “my love.” How is that possible? He’s known her for what, a day? Sorry, I don’t buy instalove. Not even in historical romance. Or maybe especially in historical romance, because back then men were expected to court women for some time. Granted, this isn’t the typical HR, but still.

I was supposed to have this review to Lime by 5/28. It’s now 6/6. For that, I’m truly sorry, but it really did take me that long to read this book. Usually I can power through a novel in a single day (I read the last few Harry Potter books all on release day, making my roommate think I’m insane), but I had the worst time getting into this book. I didn’t really have much interest in the characters until about 70% into the book—after they’re captured by pirates and Shanna starts showing that she’s growing up a little bit, and she’s got some backbone.

For the life of me, I still don’t understand why Ruark loved her from the beginning. She was like a Katy Perry song. Hot one minute and cold the next. If I were him, I would’ve gladly walked away the first time she told me to sod off. I’m too old to play games. And (I know I already said it, but it bears repeating) she’s such a spoiled, childish, selfish brat! But apparently, her beauty excuses all that…or something. I swear, every single person that she came across in the book talked about how gorgeous she was. It got to the point where my eyes hurt from rolling so hard every time I read about her beauty. She was such a [expletive deleted] every time she got near Ruark that I wanted to slap the supposed pretty off her face. Every sexual encounter between Shanna and Ruark ended with her calling him names and accusing him of taking advantage of her. Um, there were quite a few times that she went to him, if I recall correctly. And she’s the one who struck the original bargain, which included them spending the night together “as husband and wife.” She screws him over, berates him, and teases him, denies him his rights as her husband even as she gets viciously jealous when he even looks at another female (though he’s so head-over-heels for her—for whatever reason—that he barely notices anyone else exists). What does he see in her?

At 672 pages, there is far too much book. I found myself skimming through the endless description of trees and landscape and clothing. I almost felt like I was reading the romantic version of Moby Dick. So. Many. Words. And it’s soooo slow.

I feel the need to draw attention to the insane amount of references to rape in the book. Performing a search on my Kindle, there are eight different instances where rape is mentioned (although that doesn’t count the times it’s referenced indirectly), most of which are Shanna afraid she’s about to be raped or Ruark talking or thinking about it. A few examples that I highlighted:

“It was all Ruark could do to hold in check the urges that flooded him and to keep himself from simple rape.”

“Madam, rape does have its rewards, even if they be one-sided.”

“She rose from the bed and sought cover, aware that she must garb herself or face the prospect of rape.”

“Perhaps she seeks from me some violence so she can have reason to hate me.” (Shanna is wearing a sexy nightgown found in the bedroom they’re essentially trapped in while they’re with the pirates.)

I was so disturbed by these casual mentions of rape that I talked about it with Lime. I also noticed that my friend who’d told me she loved Shanna was re-reading a Woodiwiss book as she took time off from her own work. I looked through the comments, and noticed that someone said the books were rather “rapey” but they still loved them. *jaw drops* Whaaaat?

If a book were written like this nowadays, the author would be slammed with hate mail and the book would receive a million one-star reviews. Long, ranty posts would appear on Facebook and on blog posts about the mistreatment of women in fiction and how rape is never okay—not even to joke about. But apparently, it was okay enough in 1977. As it stands now, Shanna has 3,536 five star reviews, 2,409 four star reviews, 1,365 three star reviews, 409 two star reviews, and 174 one star reviews. It boggles my mind that so many people loved this book so much. To each their own, I suppose, but I just can’t get behind a book that nearly bored me to death with a heroine that I wanted to stab in the throat, and a hero that was basically a doormat (who excused, if not glorified rape in his thoughts).

Going on Limecello’s grading scale, I’d give Shanna a D (can I give it a D- ?) only because the last 30% was slightly entertaining.

]]>http://tartsweet.com/2016/06/07/guest-review-shanna-by-kathleen-e-woodiwiss/feed/49041http://tartsweet.com/2016/06/07/guest-review-shanna-by-kathleen-e-woodiwiss/I Have … An Imposter? O_ohttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ALittleBitTartALittleBitSweet/~3/Bnn9ogqi3-I/
http://tartsweet.com/2016/05/10/i-have-an-imposter-o_o/#commentsWed, 11 May 2016 01:31:05 +0000http://www.tartsweet.com/?p=9031My mind is a wasteland these days. I’m a mess, I don’t have any of my shit together, my kids are getting murdered, and their killers are walking away without convictions. So … that’s where I am.

But the purpose of this post … is to tell you all that someone out there may be … pretending to be me? I’m not quite sure but I think this is important enough to mention. Last week I got home and saw that Harper Collins was having its Fall Preview Blogger Chat. You all know I always have lofty ideas of being up to date and on top of things so I thought “well, how fortuitous! I’ll join in!”

However, when I tried to sign in as Limecello (who and what else?!) The box firmly told me “There is already someone signed in with that name.” … Or whatever the particular language was. I wish I had screencapped it. And stayed in the chat to see wtf “[not me] Limecello” said. I did mention it on Twitter, and FB, and some of the ladies at Harper Collins did see my posts. [Pam told me that Caro didn’t notice fake Limecello say anything untoward… so, small mercies?]

But here’s the thing. Limecello is not at all a common name. If it was “Mary” or “Sue” or “Lynn” sure – but … Lime itself isn’t a normal “name.” Limecello? That … has got to be intentional. Especially in a book world blogging thing. If it was some mixologist, or whatever, possibly.

So, I wanted to let you know … if there are things out there on social media posting as “Limecello” … it may or may not be me. :\ And in fact, unless it’s on my own Twitter of FB accounts (unless/until I get hacked) … it probably isn’t me considering how little I’ve been able to do lately. [If you want to keep up to date with me, I’m fairly active in both places, and discuss industry issues, books, my life, and world issues I find important. It’s just easier to do something that requires less of a commitment and is more ephemeral.]

If you see someone running around posting as Limecello, joining chats as Limecello and such … please let me know? Feel free to try to confirm identity? It’s just … shadypants to me. And if by some insanely odd chance that person who signed into the chat as Limecello reads this … please let me know why? We can talk, and I promise to do my best to be open minded.

Anyway, I’ve also been wanting to make changes to ALBTALBS – more book talk, reader focus, and also talk about any damn thing I want to. Which, for this post … is just the update.

Thanks for sticking around, y’all! *muah!* I appreciate you more than I can say. <3

]]>http://tartsweet.com/2016/05/10/i-have-an-imposter-o_o/feed/39031http://tartsweet.com/2016/05/10/i-have-an-imposter-o_o/Dreamy Strawberry Dessert: Fresh Strawberry Moussehttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ALittleBitTartALittleBitSweet/~3/-QABAArqKuc/
http://tartsweet.com/2016/04/16/dreamy-strawberry-dessert-fresh-strawberry-mousse/#commentsSat, 16 Apr 2016 07:33:53 +0000http://www.tartsweet.com/?p=9021So, first, I used Cooks Illustrated’s recipe. It was fantastic. They even have a step by step video you can watch. I was happy with the first go, but I thought – this can be even better. I also like fresher brighter flavors in general. It depends on what you’re looking for. I also have to make a “confession” … I am just AWFUL about following recipes. I know, I’m bad. So, what you might want to do is follow the “real” recipe first, then tweak it as you like.

This is my finished product from my second go-round. (Wouldn’t you love to live close to me?)

These are the ingredients as according to Cook’s Illustrated.

2 pounds strawberries, hulled (6 1/2 cups)

1/2 cup (3 1/2 ounces) sugar

Pinch salt

1 3/4 teaspoons unflavored gelatin

4 ounces cream cheese, cut into 8 pieces and softened

1/2 cup heavy cream, chilled

And… this is my list.

2 pounds strawberries, hulled (6 1/2 cups)

1/2 cup (3 1/2 ounces) sugar

Pinch salt

2 teaspoons unflavored gelatin

zest of one lemon (or lime)

fresh squeezed juice of half a lemon (or lime)

3 ounces cream cheese, cut into 8 pieces and softened

1/2 cup heavy cream, chilled

Pretty similar, yes? Also, I’m bad at this food blogging thing. First of all, I took all the pictures using my cell phone. >.> Let’s blame everything that looks not great on that. Next, I did everything in the evening, so the lighting was less than ideal – so just … imagine it brighter and prettier.

First of all, you want to wash and dry your strawberries. Then hull them, trim or clean as necessary, and cut them up. Really the recipe says to dice 1c into a 1/4″ dice to reserve to put on top. I … didn’t reserve them. You’re supposed to pulse the rest, but I don’t have a large food processor and … I’m kinda neurotic so I diced all 2 lbs. Again. The second time I had a “sous chef” though.

Dice or chop however you like. That’s just how I did it – and if you did want to reserve some for the garnish – I’d say that’s the best way. Also fun was making sure my knives were super sharp. That’s a me thing that I adore doing though. >.> The following was the start. Just … imagine 2lbs of that in a bowl, kay? Once the strawberries are cut up, you stir in 1/4c sugar, and a pinch of salt. If the berries don’t seem sweet, add a tiny bit more sugar – but I’d err on the side of “less is more” here because you want strawberry flavor to be the star.

The second time, I took out the cream cheese ASAP and actually tried whipping it (by hand with a fork) to soften it and make it more pliable, because I felt it ended as “chunks” in the mix the first time. I’d suggest taking out the cream cheese even before you wash the strawberries. Also, if you want to try to whip it, use a smaller bowl. It’s definitely not a necessary step, but I’ll do it again next time. You’ll also notice I’m crazy though.

Once you mix in the sugar and the salt, juice will immediately come out. Let it sit for 45 minutes to an hour, stirring occasionally. (*whispers* It’s totally okay to let it sit for longer, but you don’t need to.)

Your strawberries will look foamy and wet from the get go. Once it’s done sitting – the pictures of course go in chronological order from top left to right, etc. If you notice the bottom left the chunks are being spooned on to a sieve, and the bottom right is them drained. I spooned through it to hurry the process, but honestly I think you can just let it strain for 30 minutes while you go watch a favorite sitcom – such as Archer – and it’ll be fine. The juice will have a lot of foam on top, but that’ll cook off/deflate when mixed.

You’ll end up with a pot of juice – I strained directly into a sauce pan the second time. (The first time I used a liquid measuring cup because I was concerned about measurements, and was trying to be good.) Spoon 3T of the juice into a small bowl. Then sprinkle the gelatin over it. How much gelatin you need depends on how much cream cheese you use. If you use more cream cheese, then I’d go with the 1 3/4t. If you go with my amount of cream cheese, I’d say 2t or even 21/8t. Cook’s Illustrated said let the gelatin soften – which takes about 5 minutes. I say let it sit for as long as it takes to hydrate because nobody wants chunks in their dessert. You can also stir it up to help it. To get the juice for the gelatin, I just skimmed the foam away from the top and went straight to the juice at the bottom to spoon into the bowl.

While the gelatin is softening, you should be reducing the strawberry juice. Cook’s Illustrated says use medium-high heat. I say go as low as you like, but no higher than their recommendation. If you’re impatient though, I’d say put it at medium-high, but do not touch it because stirring will only push the liquid up the sides, which will scorch. And then you’ll be sad. The idea is to reduce the juice down until you only have 3T of liquid. Thus you keep all the flavor as it has concentrated, but you also control the amount of liquid going into the dessert. Science! If you like citrus, here is where you’d add the juice of half whatever citrus you decided to zest. Cook’s Illustrated actually says “for more complex berry flavor, replace the 3 tablespoons of raw strawberry juice in step 2 with strawberry or raspberry liqueur.” The main point though, is that you want to end up with only 3T of liquid total in the pot.

I wanted to be absolutely sure the gelatin was hydrated, and I had my heat on low (>.> still scorched a bit of the edge because I was fussing with it – so I had to keep mixing that in … so don’t do that) – but I still had time to puree the remaining fresh strawberries while the juice was reducing. I used a hand immersion blender – you can use whatever you have on hand or most prefer. Top left is of course the remaining fresh strawberry. Top right is me using the same strainer to sieve the puree. Make sure you work the puree – press it against the mesh – scrape the bottom with a spatula, whatever – you want everything you can get from it. Bottom left is basically what remains – I ate it, because, it’s still super strawberry flavored, and why not? Bottom right is where I deviate from Cook’s Illustrated. I wanted the brightness and freshness I knew the zest would bring.

Now you can look back to the strawberry juice that you’ve been keeping an eye on – because once it hits 3T you mix in the hydrated gelatin. If you’ve reduced down to 3T before you’ve finished sieving the puree, leave the fresh fruit – it’ll be fine. Focus on the things being cooked, and let the puree continue to drain on its own.

Once your puree is done, this is the scary part. You want to add the cream cheese to the juice + gelatin mixture. It will curdle. I repeat. It. Will. Curdle. You will worry, and think it looks awful and everything is ruined. It looks absolutely wrong, and unappetizing, but I included it because you need to see how it looks so you won’t panic. The acidity in the strawberry juice – and the heat – will just not react nicely with the dairy + structure of the cream cheese. Whisk like hell. Whisk like it offended you. Whisk like you think you just put hours of work into this goddamn dessert and now it’s all ruined and fuck you, dessert.

On the left is once the cream cheese is in and you’ve just started to whisk. The middle is an action shot. Pour that mix into the strained puree, and mix it together. That on the right is what you end up with once they’re combined. See? It looks so much better! (If you weren’t done getting the fresh strawberry puree by the time the cream cheese, gelatin, and juice had been whisked together, you can either mix what you have and incorporate the remaining strawberry, or leave them separate until you’re ready to combine. At this point there’s – IMO – no way to ruin it.)

Then, you want to make the whipped cream. This is where the remaining 1/4c sugar comes in. I experienced an extra layer of self loathing, so I decided to whisk it by hand. I was feeling silly, so I took a picture of the heavy whipping cream … then the “stiff peak test” wherein you turn the bowl upside down. [Hint – if any of the cream moves, you haven’t achieved stiff peaks. Also, if you haven’t achieved stiff peaks, you, or the floor, will likely be wearing whipped cream. Notify the pets if you have any.] Anyway – once your whipped cream has been made, and properly sweetened, dump it on your strawberry mix, and whisk it in.

Once everything is fully incorporated, spoon the mousse mixture into whatever container you want to serve it in. I think individual bowls is nice for mousse. [Also I’m not sure how well it’d stand to being spooned?] I happened to have these dessert cups.

I made ten of these. Eyeballing it I’d say each cup has … maybe 3/4c of mousse? Anyway, chill it for 4-48 hours. I covered mine, with cling wrap, and let it go in the fridge. You’ll end up with a final product like the dessert you see at the top. Well, if you take some extra berries, melt the Ghiradelli dark chocolate you had at home and make dark chocolate covered strawberries.

Enjoy.

Psst. Last tip – the first time, I sieved everything to the extreme. The second time … well, my “sous chef” suggested I used the immersion hand blender to make the whipped cream. It didn’t work, and hadn’t been cleaned off, so there were some strawberry seeds in it. That means there are a minute amount of strawberry seeds in the second batch. I have to say, I actually kind of like that. It’s an extra “in your face” that these are fresh strawberries in a mousse that you made from scratch. So if you like a tiny bit of texture, I’d say you know, dip a spoon into the remaining strawberry puree/seeds and use that to mix the mousse at the end. You don’t want a LOT – you don’t want crunchy mousse, but not being neurotic with your kitchen tools and allowing for a few seeds … isn’t the worst thing ever. In fact, some people might prefer it. You’ll know your guests better than I do.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask! I hope I made some sense of this … and as you’ll see, I am truly terrible about recipes. And following directions. XD

]]>http://tartsweet.com/2016/04/16/dreamy-strawberry-dessert-fresh-strawberry-mousse/feed/59021http://tartsweet.com/2016/04/16/dreamy-strawberry-dessert-fresh-strawberry-mousse/SWHM Guest: Cecilia Londonhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ALittleBitTartALittleBitSweet/~3/yq7Z-OJPJQw/
http://tartsweet.com/2016/03/26/swhm-guest-cecilia-london/#commentsSat, 26 Mar 2016 04:09:22 +0000http://www.tartsweet.com/?p=9010My friends, March is almost over, and I’ve let Smithsonian Women’s History Month pass quietly. There will likely be some changes at ALBTALBS (and ideally a more usual schedule – that’d be a change of pace for sure…) – and some “retroactive” posts… but as you see, we have the fantastic Cecilia London guesting with us, and she’s got a double relevant post – discussing Women’s History Month as well as her books – one of which is currently free. Whee!

My earliest political memory is of drawing a mustache on Walter Mondale while my best friend drew a beard on Ronald Reagan. We had just been handed a special election copy of Weekly Reader. Don’t judge me, or her…we were seven and in parochial school. I hadn’t yet realized that my parents were moderate to liberal independents with rebellious voting tendencies that have only gotten more radical with age. I was convinced I was a Republican.

Flash forward a few years to eighth grade, when I took a highly questionable test on a school computer that declared me a liberal. Liberal? From everything I’d been told, that was a very dirty word. I wasn’t sure I wanted any part of it. But I embraced the results and zoomed head-on into high school.

By the time the 1992 elections came around, I knew the score. I’d watched the Hill-Thomas hearings. I’d gotten sick of seeing all those arrogant men acting like they owned the damn country. And I was ready to dedicate my life to public service. I wanted to be like my idols – Pat Schroeder, Geraldine Ferraro, Bella Abzug, Shirley Chisholm, Barbara Jordan – all the women I’d read about in the paper or seen on TV. I wanted to be a member of Congress.

I love political memorabilia.

Easier said than done, of course. I supported Jerry Brown up until the convention, when I finally admitted that Clinton was going to be the nominee. I had hope in Bill along with Senator-elect Carol Moseley Braun, who had scored a huge upset victory against Alan Dixon in the Democratic primary. I was a fresh faced, idealistic fifteen year old convinced that this so-called Year of the Woman and Clinton’s election could get us going…somewhere. It had to…right?

Hey, an old copy of the Chicago Tribune! I keep EVERYTHING. If I ever drop off the social media map without warning, please send someone to check on me. I’m likely buried in a pile of old newspapers and copies of Entertainment Weekly.

My parents and I visited Washington, D.C. in the summer of 1993. I was so excited. A friend of mine gave me a copy of Pat Schroeder’s first book (Champion of the Great American Family) as a joke since she’d gotten it at a book sale for fifty cents (it was not exactly a commercial success). Pat Schroeder was my idol. The idealist. The feminist. The woman who along with six others marched up the steps to the United States Senate demanding an inquiry into the accusations Anita Hill had made against Clarence Thomas. And I was determined to meet her.

Yes, I wanted to meet Pat Schroeder. And Marjorie Margolies-Mezvinsky, and Barbara Mikulski, and Patty Murray, and any other female member of Congress I could find. These women were my superstars, my celebrities, my inspiration. Sadly, Representative Schroeder was not in her office when I visited. Her staffers let me sit at her desk and my parents snapped a photo. They offered to have her call me at my hotel but (being the shy kid I was) I stupidly said that wasn’t necessary. To this day I wish I would have said yes. Who knows what that conversation might have been like?

Pat Schroeder declined to run for re-election in 1996. I was devastated. But I understood. She’d spent 24 years in the House. Progress had been made, but not much. She was one of the trailblazers, making it easier for other female candidates to run and win. But had anything in the promise of the Year of the Woman actually been achieved? Perhaps. But we have miles to go before we sleep.

So what’s the point of this piece? To drop some names, share some personal anecdotes, (eventually) plug my books? Whenever February and March roll around, I always wonder why some folks get up in arms about Black History Month and Women’s History Month. I don’t mean those of us who celebrate it. I mean those who feel such celebrations aren’t necessary.

Hopefully those of you reading this guest post have recognized all the names I’ve mentioned so far. But if you haven’t? That’s why we need Women’s History Month. It’s not just about female politicians and social activists (though they have driven a lot of this country’s political evolution) but inventors, writers, lawyers, architects, astronauts…and not just the ones that show up in mainstream history books. This is about more than Jeannette Rankin and Geraldine Ferraro and Shirley Chisholm…more than Fannie Lou Hamer and Toni Morrison and Sally Ride… it’s about all of those accomplishments that have been buried because the gatekeepers have deemed them to be insignificant.

I took women’s studies and African American history classes in college but never learned all the details of Chisholm’s historic 1972 presidential run until I was well out of law school. I had to seek the story out myself (in a wonderful documentary entitled Chisholm ’72: Unbought and Unbossed, which I highly recommend). And she is (IMHO) a relatively high profile figure in women’s history. This is the kind of information that should be taught in every high school American history class. And it is not.

Anyway…back to my story (and my books!). As I grew older, my political drive lessened but I remained interested in public policy. I went to law school, dedicated to serving the public in some capacity. But I began to realize that the gamesmanship required to gain elected office wasn’t something I was willing to do. I decided to work in the public sector in a non-political capacity. But my creativity was sapped…until October 2013.

I was still a dreamer in law school but those three years force you to process your thoughts in a different way. I stopped writing poetry and short stories to focus on briefs and motions but had a very active imagination. And I created these two vibrant characters in my head – a male and female member of Congress on opposite sides of the aisle. But I had no vehicle for them. They languished in my daydreams for almost ten years until I had a food poisoning-induced dream in which I pictured them as valiant patriots fighting a fascist regime.

The overall plotline of my series has evolved but thanks to that questionable barbecue, The Bellator Saga was born. And despite current events, I assure you I am not writing metafiction (so far as I can tell).

In a way, Caroline Gerard (my heroine) is an idealized version of the public figure I’d hoped to become back in high school. Moderately liberal, fiercely passionate about human and civil rights, genuinely kind and decent. Her romantic lead may at first appear to be a caricature – millionaire, playboy, Republican, silver fox (if you dig the older dudes like I do) – but…

Gratuitous teaser included in guest post at no extra charge!

I wanted to humanize my characters. Make them real. Because we all have foibles. We all have flaws. It doesn’t matter if we’re high profile or not. We’re all just people. Granted, Caroline and Jack are larger than life in any number of ways, but I hope that they’re relatable.

I wanted to explore a few deeper issues in The Bellator Saga – which is best described as It Can’t Happen Here blended with, uh, a lot of sex. What would happen if a fascist were allowed to take office? How easily could it happen? How would Americans react? And more importantly, how would those with money, power, and influence (like Caroline and Jack) respond when dissent is batted down viciously (though clandestinely)?

It would be easy for a person of privilege to flee instead of fighting, but Caroline chooses to throw down the gauntlet. As I developed the plotline it was vitally important that she not only be a badass (in the intellectual, politically active sense) but a compassionate, loyal person who would defend her ideals and her country until the very end. It was also important that she and Jack have an egalitarian relationship grounded in a deep emotional connection and an undying passion for one another.

The series is different; I will grant you that. The first two books, Dissident and Conscience, are told in a non-linear fashion, with parallel present/past timelines converging at the end of book two. The journey continues in Sojourn, as Caroline continues to wrestle with her memories of a beautiful past while struggling in an uncertain present.

The last three books in the series will be released in 2016, and a box set of the first three books was released on February 29. The Bellator Saga has a bit of everything but is at its heart an epic romance. It’s got a meaty plot and parts of it can be difficult to read (I don’t sugarcoat anything – totalitarian regimes don’t play nice), so you’ll likely either love it or hate it.

I hope that if nothing else, Caroline has lived up to the women I admired as a child. Because of them I continue my activist spirit in a different way – through the written word (and sometimes as a lawyer, I suppose!).

Rising Democratic star Caroline Gerard hasn’t had an easy year. After losing her husband, she is raising two small children alone while trying to navigate the tricky and sometimes shallow halls on Capitol Hill. A string of nasty speeches has her scrambling to apologize to any number of candidates, including newly elected Republican Jack McIntyre. Falling in love again is the last thing on her mind.

Jack McIntyre might have a reputation as a playboy, but he has his sights set solely on his new colleague. Can he break through Caroline’s grief and capture her heart?

Told mostly in flashback and set against a chilling fascist backdrop, Dissident is a rollercoaster ride of political intrigue, passionate contemporary romance, and undying love.

For readers 18+. Ends on a cliffhanger.

And for The Bellator Saga which includes the first three books…Two souls intertwined. One epic love story.

Get swept away in the passionate romance between political opposites Caroline Gerard and Jack McIntyre in the first half of The Bellator Saga.

This set contains the first three books in the series, Dissident, Conscience, and Sojourn.

Dissident
Rising Democratic star Caroline Gerard is reluctant to fall in love again after losing her husband. Can Republican playboy Jack McIntyre break through her grief and capture her heart? Told mostly in flashback and set against a chilling fascist backdrop, Dissident is a rollercoaster ride of political intrigue, passionate romance, and undying love.

Conscience
Caroline faces the biggest challenge of her life when confronted with the cruelty and sadism of her captors at The Fed. Hope fades quickly, even as she holds onto her one last bit of sanity and her unshakable belief that her husband will rescue her. But is that faith just a mirage?

Sojourn
Reeling from her experiences at The Fed, Caroline tries to forge ahead and create a new identity. But that’s hard to do with the ghosts of the past constantly whispering in her ear. She is determined to find the rebellion and move on with her life, but what will she find when she arrives there?

Includes bonus material featuring a deleted scene from Sojourn, a sneak peek at Phoenix, and a never before released love scene told in Jack’s first person point of view!